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I can't comment on any of the Chinese scopes but the usual tier of quality is:
1. AstroPhysics - it's not just the perfect optics it's also the solid perfect construction, robust focuser and the fact everything works out of the box.
They run production off a wait list so you are limited to waiting a long time or buying second hand.
2. Takahashi - Tak has a large range of scopes and usually not that long of a wait list, FSQ106 excepted. I have had several Tak scopes and they are delightful but you have to add the cost of rings and a case as they are extra.
Similar prices to AstroPhysics but Tak has had some quality issues with their focusers over the last decade. Like the FSQ106EDX, they released 4 versions before they got the focuser right. AP would never do that. So to my mind Tak has a bit of a minor question mark hanging over it. They also pulled the FSQ130ED off the market but personally I have never had a dud Tak.
A Tak fluorite doublet though is not good enough for imaging. I had a Tak FS152 fluorite doublet and was unhappy to find out that whilst it was an excellent visual scope it lacked in colour correction for imaging with blue halos around bright stars.
3. TEC - mostly a range of flourite triplet optics and Feathertouch focusers.
Many happy owners. I had a TEC180FL for many years. I believe they have a wait list as well.
4. APM/LZOS - Russian optics and done to a high standard. Not sure if they are currently being made or not. Often highly regarded.
5. CFF - done to a very high standard. Feather touch Focusers. Optics are extremely high end, up there with AstroPhysics and Tak. My CFF105 F6 has optics tested in green at 99.4 strehl. That's about as good as it gets.
6. Stellarvue - They make a range of scopes and some of these are high end.
7. Skywatcher Esprit scopes. These are good value and come with flatteners and perhaps reducers and a case for less than their competitors. Lots of good images from these.
They are the top scope makers that I am aware of. There are other scopes that probably are quite good like Sky Rover, ZWO, Sharpstar, Astronomics.
Teleskop Services. The Petsval scopes from Askar look interesting.
There is a lot of rebranding of Chinese scopes so you'd have to find out if there are any differences between some brands or if the only difference is the brand name. Not sure.
I suspect there may be sample variations with these lower brands so it may be prudent to buy from someone who has a good return policy.
Generally speaking you want an FPL53 or FCD100 triplet lens, often these are air spaced. Oil spaced is better for thermal equilibrium.
Greg.
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